Daniel j



Ilnrrnn fi'rarns DANIEL J. BIKER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO SAMUEL ORUMP, OF SAME PLACE.

PROCESS OF GRANULATING lVlOLTEN METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,590. dated February 23, 1886.

Application filed July 2, 1884. Serial No. 136,672. (Specimens.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. BIKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Granulating Molten Metals, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has relation to an improved process of producing a composition to be used in the art of producing surfaces that may be utilized in molding or giving form to other surfaces or objects, as hereinafter described.

In carrying my invention into effect I make use of a primary metal or an alloy and mercury. If an alloy is used, it will preferably consist of lead and tin in the proportion of about thirty parts of lead and five parts of tin to five parts of the mercury. The primary metal is first melted or the ingredients of the alloy are first brought together and melted, all oxide or foreign matter arising to the surface being skimmed off. After the melting'of the primary metal or alloy the operation of removing the oxide from the surface is continued as frequently as necessary. At the same time the temperature of same is allowed to fall below the volatilizing point of mercury, when the mercury is slowly added to and thoroughly incorporated with the melted metal or alloy by stirring or otherwise, the stirring or agitation being continued until the production of the amalgam is com plete. Of course, if during the stirring of the mass any further oxide should arise it should be removed. After the ingredients are combined and all oxide removed the heated mass is constantly agitated or stirred while cooling until it assumes a uniform granulated or powdered condition. The size of the crystals or grains will depend on the manner of the agitation and the length of time the mass is cool ing. If the mass is allowed to cool quickly under gentle agitation, the granules will be comparatively large, while slow cooling and vigorous agitation or stirring will produce a fine powder. The primary metal or alloy is volatilizing point of mercury. 4 The skimming of the oxide from the surface should be continued as long as practicable, since upon its removal depends the purity of the c0mpound. The proportions to the mercury of the primary metal or the proportions and ingredients in the alloy will depend upon the purpose to which the resultant product is to be applied.

' The powdered or granulated material produced as above described may be utilized in the arts in the reproduction of surfaces which are not undercut or provided with undercut elevations or projections. When the said material is applied upon any surface and subiected to pressure, either with or without heat, it will form a compact plate or body bearing in reverse an exceptionally accurate reproduction of the surface upon which the material or composition has been pressed.

The composition produced as hereinbefore described is admirably adapted to the manufacture of matrices, and I have filed an application of even date herewith, in which a method of producing matrices from it is described.

IVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process hereinbefore described of forming a composition consisting of a primary metal or an alloy and mercury, which consists in uniting the said metals and thoroughly and continuously agitating the combined mass until it assumes a powdered or granular form, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The process hereinbefore described of forming a composition consisting of a primary metal or an alloy and mercury, which consists in uniting the said metals by melting and removing the oxide from the surface and thoroughly and continuously agitating the combined mass until it assumes a powdered or granulated form, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of June, A. D. 1884.

DANIEL J. BIKER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. GILL, HERMAN Gusrow. 

